PHILIPSBURG:--- Thirty years ago, Hurricane Luis changed the course of Sint Maarten’s history. Today, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina reflects on the journey of resilience, recovery, and renewal that has defined the island ever since.

“When Hurricane Luis struck in 1995, it left behind destruction, heartbreak, and uncertainty. But even in the darkest moments, our people showed the world what it means to rise from the rubble. Thirty years later, we pause to honor that spirit, to reflect on our journey, and to recommit ourselves to the brighter future our country deserves.”

The Prime Minister acknowledged that while progress has been made in rebuilding infrastructure, strengthening institutions, and diversifying opportunities, Sint Maarten has endured continued trials. From Hurricanes Irma and Maria to the global COVID-19 pandemic, each crisis has tested the island’s resilience.

“We have rebuilt homes, reopened businesses, and restored lives, but we also know the setbacks all too well. Irma and Maria reminded us of our vulnerability, and the pandemic brought new challenges to our economy and our way of life. Yet through it all, the unshakable determination of the people of Sint Maarten has never wavered.”

PM Dr. Mercelina highlighted the importance of learning from past experiences to secure a stronger, more sustainable future. He emphasized the need for continued investment in resilience, renewable energy, healthcare, and economic diversification to ensure Sint Maarten not only survives storms but thrives beyond them.

“Progress is not measured only in what we rebuild, but in how we prepare. Each lesson from Luis, Irma, Maria, and COVID-19 must guide us to create systems that protect our people, empower our country, and safeguard our children’s tomorrow.”

In closing, the Prime Minister urged unity and collective responsibility as our country moves forward, “Thirty years ago, Luis shook us, but it did not break us. Irma scarred us, but it did not silence us. COVID-19 isolated us, but it did not divide us. Let us also be grateful to our creator for where we are today.

We must look back with humility and move forward with hope. Together, we will continue to rise stronger because Sint Maarten’s greatest strength has always been, and will always be, its people.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, appeared on 102.7 FM’s "The Breakfast Lounge" this morning, providing a comprehensive overview of her 16 months in office. The Minister detailed the significant challenges her ministry has faced, outlined key initiatives underway, and shared her strategic vision for St. Maarten's economic future.

Reflections on 16 Months of Governance

Minister Heyliger-Marten described her tenure as comprising two distinct phases: six months as a caretaker government managing daily affairs, followed by ten months of active governance. She used the analogy of a chef entering a messy kitchen to describe the state of affairs she inherited. "Before you can cook the meal that you promised, you need to clean up. And that's what I've been doing the last 10 months, is cleaning up," she stated, referring to inherited budgets and systemic issues.

The Minister pointed out that the previous administration finalized both the 2024 and 2025 budgets. For 2025, the TEATT ministry, responsible for the core economic pillar of tourism, was allocated just 23 million guilders, or 5% of the total 530-million-guilder national budget. Of this, only 4 million guilders are designated for tourism promotion, a figure she noted is dwarfed by the marketing budgets of competing destinations.

Despite the financial constraints, Heyliger-Marten emphasized a proactive approach. She revealed ongoing collaboration with the Minister of Finance on a plan to inject an additional 200 million guiders into the economy without further burdening residents and businesses.

Key Initiatives and Sector Reforms

Soualiga Marketplace: Addressing public concerns, the Minister confirmed that construction on the Soualiga Marketplace has begun, with soil betterment and foundation work underway. The project, expected to be completed in six to eight months, will also feature an independent advisor to ensure financial and procedural oversight. A solution for providing long-awaited relief to the vendors is being finalized and is expected to be announced next month.

Airport Controversy and Cross-Border Relations: The Minister addressed the recent letter from Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) restricting French nationals from receiving access cards. (PJIA) restricting French nationals from receiving access cards. She clarified that she was not consulted prior to the letter's issuance and acted swiftly to recommend its retraction to prevent a shutdown and mitigate damage to cross-border unity. "It was a very divisive letter," she said, "I've always been a proponent of one people, one nation." She advocated for a comprehensive, inter-ministerial approach to resolve the long-standing issue of cross-border labor, which has been tolerated for years.

Tourism and Airlift: On a positive note, Heyliger-Marten announced significant boosts in airlift. Southwest Airlines is set to launch new routes from Orlando and Baltimore/Washington in April, with potential future expansion to Texas. Frontier Airlines will begin flights from Atlanta in December, and Air Caraïbes will add service from France in November. Increased flight frequencies from JetBlue, Air Canada, and Sun Country complement this. The next strategic focus, she noted, is expanding into the South American market. To support this growth, the ministry is working to establish a St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA) with a proposed independent marketing budget of at least 10 million US dollars.

Taxi and Bus Sector Overhaul: The Minister detailed a major cleanup of the taxi and bus licensing system, citing findings from the Integrity Chamber and SOAB that pointed to non-compliance and procedural bypasses in a large number of licenses issued just before the last election. An inspection revealed that of over 600 registered taxis, only around 400 paid their road tax, leaving over 200 potentially idle. The ministry is now reviewing the legal basis for revoking non-compliant or inactive licenses. Future reforms will include mandatory training and certification for all drivers in customer service, safety, and local knowledge.

Regarding ride-sharing app SXM Taxi, the Minister clarified that while she issued their business license, she cannot, as the regulator, endorse a service that adds a 10-15% surcharge to government-regulated rates. The ministry is developing its own regulatory app, planned for launch next year in conjunction with the new training programs.

Digital Infrastructure and Economic Diversification

Minister Heyliger-Marten confirmed that an agreement is in place with Starlink, ensuring the country receives revenue from its operations. Simultaneously, the government is providing support to TelEm to facilitate the launch of its 5G network, a project being developed using Huawei technology. She expressed confidence that a fully supported TelEm "will be unbeatable" and able to compete effectively.

The Minister also addressed plans to combat price gouging and diversify the food supply. An "Out Agency" is being established to support local farmers and fishermen, promote regional trade, and reduce dependence on U.S. imports. Currently, 20 local farmers and fishermen are participating in a 12-week business and technical training program, after which they will be eligible for low-interest loans to expand their enterprises.

Concluding the interview, Minister Heyliger-Marten reiterated her commitment to her "R4 effect" mantra: Reshaping, Restructuring, and Rebuilding St. Maarten's economy through systematic and legally sound reforms.

Georgetown Guyana:--- The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has declared the official results for all ten electoral districts, confirming a clear victory for the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the 2025 General and Regional Elections.

Based on the results declared, the PPP/C is set to begin a second term in office after securing a commanding 242,498 votes. The party won a majority in eight of the ten electoral districts.

The PPP/C successfully claimed victory in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Eight, and Nine. In a significant shift, the party also made historic gains in Regions Four and Eight, areas that have traditionally been strongholds for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

Meanwhile, the newcomer political party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) made a notable entrance by winning Regions Seven and Ten, which were previously held by APNU. WIN gathered a total of 109,066 votes across the country.

The declarations from all ten districts finalize the outcome of the 2025 elections, which saw six political parties competing for leadership.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Fire Chief and National Disaster Coordinator of the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Clive Richardson, is calling on residents and the business community to remain vigilant and to review their storm-hurricane preparedness plans as a new weather system several hundred miles in the eastern tropical Atlantic, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) is starting to become better organized.

The NHC said on Thursday that the tropical wave has an 80 per cent chance to develop and could be in the area of the Lesser Antilles by the middle of next week.  

The Colorado State University (CSU) Department of Atmospheric Science in its most recent seasonal forecast, says the hurricane season looks to pick up markedly towards the middle of September and continue into the second half of the month.

On Wednesday, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) met, where the 10 Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) participated in a debrief related to the preparations for the passing of Hurricane Erin in mid-August.

The 10 ESFs that make up the national disaster management organization of the country are: ESF-1 NV GEBE Electricity/Water Production; ESF-2 Bureau Telecommunications & Post (BTP); ESF-3 Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environmen,t and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI); ESF-4 Fire Department; ESF-5 Police Department; ESF-6 Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) Medical Assistance; ESF-7 Ministry VSA Evacuation, Shelters, Relief and Mass Casualties; ESF-8 Department of Communication (DCOMM); ESF-9 Ministry of General Affairs; and ESF-10 Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT).

“The various ESFs reviewed the actions that they took in response to the developing threat posed by Hurricane Erin, which became a category 5 hurricane within a short period of time to the north of the islands. This significant development of the hurricane shows that as a nation, we have to always be prepared and vigilant by monitoring weather reports.

“In the debrief, we reviewed pre-storm preparations and the mobilization of resources and deployment of crews by certain ministries and ESFs. The coordination and proactive measures taken were instrumental in the initial response to keep clear roads of debris and waterways.

“The post-Erin assessment indicates that the EOC's preparedness and response framework performed effectively. The EOC will use this debrief to refine our standard operating procedures, to ensure a resilient response in the future, in the event of future storms/hurricanes. 

“The hurricane season is not over! We are now in the peak month, and I call on the nation and the business community to remain prepared to take action when called upon to do so,” Chairman of the EOC Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Luc Mercelina said on Thursday.

Monitor local weather reports from the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/ as the country is now in the peak period of the season.

The remaining 2025 storm names are: Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy.

For more information on hurricane preparedness and to find a list of official resources, please visit the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane, where you will be able to download your “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide’ and “Hurricane Tracking Chart,” or you can use the following link: https://shorturl.at/VbaxC

Listen to the Government Radio station – SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather-related news and information as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page.

The hurricane season runs through November 30.